Trail Blazers history: Portland sets a slew of records and starts season 11-0 in blowout victory over San Antonio Spurs

The Trail Blazers were scheduled to host the Utah Jazz tonight at the Rose Garden. Instead, the NBA lockout has reached its 148th day.

Normally this blog would be filled with a preview and recap of today’s game, among other things. To fill that void, we’ve decided to showcase a moment in Blazers’ history. For every game the Blazers were scheduled to play during this lockout, we’ll dig through the archives and highlight something interesting, meaningful, fun or unsavory that happened that day in franchise history, and share it on the blog.

As we look back at the highs and lows of the Trail Blazers’ storied history, we’d be hard pressed to find a more festive memory for the Thanksgiving holiday than what occurred on Nov. 25, 1990.

The Blazers were in the early stages of a record-breaking season in which they would win a franchise-best 63 games and advance to the Western Conference Finals. And it was an epic time in franchise history, with the Blazers in the midst of a four-year run in which they won no less than 51 games and played in two NBA Finals.

View full sizeOregonian file photoClyde Drexler had a remarkable first-quarter that included 15 points, four blocks, three assists and two steals.

So ... on to Nov. 25, 1990. The Blazers had won their first 10 games of the season — a franchise record — and were poised to welcome Western Conference juggernaut San Antonio and All-Star center David Robinson into Memorial Coliseum. Making things even more intriguing was that the teams were fresh off a memorable second round playoff series the previous season, when the Blazers defeated the Spurs in seven games by winning Game 7 108-105 in overtime.

The Blazers would only add to the Spurs’ misery this night, turning in a record-setting first quarter en route to a dominant 117-103 victory that delivered the Blazers an 11-0 record. At the time, it was the longest winning streak in franchise history and it remains the best start to a season in team history.

About that first quarter. The Blazers outscored the Spurs 49-18. Yes, 49-18. The 49 points remain the most scored in the first quarter and are tied for the most scored in any quarter in Blazers history.

The Blazers made 22 of their 25 shots, including all five of their three-pointers, and recorded 18 assists — the most in one quarter in franchise history. The list of individual superlatives was extensive.

Clyde Drexler made 7 of 8 shots, scored 15 points, blocked four shots, registered two steals and had three assists. Kevin Duckworth made all six of his field goals and scored 12 points. Terry Porter had a franchise-record 10 assists and made all three of his shot attempts, including two three-pointers.

Meanwhile, the Blazers’ defense was suffocating. The Spurs made just 8 of 23 shots and committed eight turnovers.

“It was a coach’s dream,” Buck Williams told The Oregonian. “It was like a clinic on how to play the game. I’ve never seen a better quarter. We just did everything. We made almost every shot, we penetrated, we rebounded, we got back on defense.”

Added Spurs coach Larry Brown: “We haven’t played everybody, but with that first period, they would have beaten the All-Decade team. They’re as good as anybody we’ve played. Obviously, they’re 11-0, so there are a lot of teams that can probably say that about them. ... They were terrific. Their bench was terrific. They just beat us. I can’t find fault after the first quarter.”

About the only highlight for the Spurs was the play of Robinson, who finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds. But after the game, he was most focused on the first quarter explosion by the Blazers.

“If they’re doing that against other people, it’s going to be a scary season for the rest of us,” Robinson told The Oregonian. “That’s the best first quarter I’ve ever seen. I mean, come on? Have you seen a better first quarter than that? That’s phenomenal. I don’t know what they shot, but it was ridiculous. If they shoot like that against everybody, there isn’t anybody who’s going to beat them.”

The Blazers would lose their next game to Phoenix to end the winning streak. But they won eight in a row after that to start the season 19-1. At one point in the dominant season, the Blazers’ record was 27-3 and they did not reach double figures in losses until Feb. 17, 1991. In March and April, they would establish the franchise record for consecutive wins with 16.

If this mind-boggling lockout wipes out the season, odds are we’ll be looking more closely at some of those moments down the road.